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Friday, March 22, 2013

Adieu to a Great Story Teller

Chinua Achebe (born 1930, died 21st March, 2013) was one of the foremost Nigerian novelists. His
novels were primarily directed to an African audience, but their
psychological insights have gained them universal acceptance.

He is also known the World over for having played a seminal role
in the founding and development of African literature and is considered to be among the most significant World writers.

He gained Worldwide attention for Things Fall Apart in the late 1950s; his later novels
include No Longer at Ease (1960), Arrow
of God (1964), A Man of the People (1966), and Anthills of the Savannah (1987).

He also played a major role during the Nigeria Civil War where he
joined the Biafran Government as an Ambassador.

His latest book, There Was a Country, was an autobiography
on his experiences and views of the Civil War.

Twice, he rejected offers by the Nigerian government to grant him a National Honour, citing the deplorable political situations in the
country, particularly in his home state of Anambra, as reason.#Integrity :)

I can vividly remember ravaging through his popular novel A Man of the People, filling my mind with the well crafted illustration of the characters who clearly depicted the corrupt political scene of many African countries.

We have indeed lost a rare Gem and a worthy Wordsmith.

Rest on Professor Chinua Achebe.

Popular Quotes by Chinua Achebe

“Nobody can teach me who I am. You can describe parts of me, but
who I am - and what I need - is something I have to find out myself.”
―
Chinua
Achebe

“We cannot trample upon the humanity of others without devaluing our
own. The Igbo, always practical, put it concretely in their proverb Onye
ji onye n'ani ji onwe ya: "He who will hold another down in the
mud must stay in the mud to keep him down.”

―
Chinua
Achebe

If you only hear one side of the story, you have no understanding at all